The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent, preventable, and treatable disease that affects both men and women around the world.
-
It is a chronic inflammatory lung pathology that causes obstruction to the passage of air in the lungs. In the vast majority of cases, the disease is derived from the inhalation of tobacco smoke over a long period of time and, therefore, smokers are the most affected, although not the only ones.
In our country, the prevalence of COPD among the population between 40 and 80 years of age is 11.8%. But these percentages could be much higher because, according to him, it is estimated that underdiagnosis of this pathology is around 80%.
Every year, in addition, it is estimated that more than 13,500 people die in Spain from this disease (13,808 in 2019) and that worldwide it is the main pathology behind around 3 million deaths.
COPD symptoms
One of the characteristics of this respiratory disease is that its symptoms do not appear at the beginning of the disease, when they begin to affect the alveoli, the bronchi dilate and the lungs begin to produce more mucus than normal.
How do you explain the Dr. Ruth Martin de Diegomember of the .
-
“Symptoms (difficulty breathing, coughing, mucus production, and wheezing) usually do not appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they tend to worsen over time, particularly if exposure to the primary causative agent (for example, tobacco ) keep going”,
In addition to being a pathology that takes time to show its face, it has the following constants, as the doctor shows us:
-
“There is no cure.
-
It is a progressive disease, which worsens over time.
-
Fortunately it is treatable. With proper handling
-
Most people can achieve good symptom control and quality of life.”
More dyspnea, depression and osteoporosis among women with COPD, but less mortality
Despite the fact that gender is not a risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive disease, general medicine specialists are observing how the prevalence of COPD and respiratory diseases associated with smoking is increasing in Spain among women.
And it is necessary to remember that 16.4% of the women are habitual smokers.
“COPD may be a growing health problem for women as well, and a change in its approach is necessary,” according to Dr. Martín.
Despite this, the underdiagnosis of COPD in our country is higher in the female group than in the male group.
In order to solve this gender gap in the diagnosis of COPD, Dr. Martín has analyzed whether this pathology presents differences in women compared to men. And the conclusion is yes.
According to recent studies and research, women with COPD present:
-
More dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
-
Worse health-related quality of life
-
Further
-
more depression
-
worse nutritional status
-
Further .
Other differences with respect to men is that women who have the disease have more exacerbations; On the other hand, unlike men, they suffer fewer readmissions and mortality due to COPD is lower.
79 diseases associated with COPD
The Doctors Belén Alonso and Jesús Díez Manglanomembers of the SEMI COPD Group, explain that up to now a total of “79 comorbidities associated with COPD” have been described.
According to the ECCO and ESMI studies, both carried out by this working group, the most frequent comorbidities in this group of patients were:
-
Arterial hypertension.
-
.
-
Mellitus diabetes.
-
.
-
atrial fibrillation.
-
Ischemic heart disease.
In addition to these, the internists point out other pathologies that “although less frequent – such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic liver disease, lung cancer, or depression – are no less important and, of course, should not be ignored”.
The importance of knowing the comorbidities associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is that it can greatly improve the care that internal medicine services give to patients with COPD.
“The correct approach and treatment of comorbidities associated with COPD is key to improving the patient’s quality of life, reducing the number of exacerbations, morbidity and mortality, and avoiding hospital readmissions. For this reason, it is essential to actively search for comorbidities both in the acute phase and in the stable phase of the disease”.